John Greechan: I watched Hibs make history by beating Celtic on huge day for title race - my 3 key takeaways
David Gray’s men can be much more than bit-part players in final act of dramatic season
Everybody happy, then? Absolutely, right? No qualms, no regrets, no concerns about What This Means in the wider context of a title race suddenly and violently tilted in favour of … well, y’know. Because that way lies madness.
As Hibs fans reflect on a historic victory over Celtic in Glasgow, a first away win over the Hoops since way back in January of 2010, a triumph that was all about the doggedness, effectiveness and occasional brilliance of David Gray’s team is bound to be just a little overshadowed by the external ramifications of a one-off results. We’ll get to that.
But the primary focus for Easter Road regulars will be on what this result – and performance – means for their team. Is there life yet in a campaign that seemed in danger of spiralling towards mid-table mediocrity? And does the run-in suddenly seem more laden with opportunity than fraught with danger?
New boys hit the ground running
Hibs made six signings during the January transfer window, the entire half-dozen arriving in a late flurry of activity – including three pitching up on Deadline Day itself. Imagine what might have been, had these guys come on board at the start of 2026 …
Former Borussia Dortmund wunderkind opened scoring
Both Felix Passlack and Kai Andrews scoring their first goals – a first senior goal for anyone, in the case of 19-year-old Andrews – felt like significant milestones for the new recruits. Further proof, if any was needed, that these boys are determined to make an impact.
Owen Elding, having scored on his first start in the previous weekend’s home win over St Mirren, led the line to decent effect at Celtic Park. And instant cult hero Ante Suto, fresh from netting his second goal for Hibs in that victory over the Buddies, provided a perfect assist for the Andrews winner yesterday.
Suto is yet to make a start for Hibs. Andrews could consider himself unlucky, according to Gray, to have been limited to fleeting substitute appearances since starting against Hearts at Tynecastle.
Speaking about the on-loan Coventry midfielder’s ability to come on and win the game, Gray said: “I think the way Kai plays is really how his character is. Really composed, really calm for a 19-year-old boy.
“That's one thing we need to remember. He's only 19. I know he's played in Scotland before at a really young age, 17, when he was at Motherwell.
“He's at a very good club and a big club and playing at a high level. And he just works hard and wants to get better all the time. And I think he brings a composure to the game.”
The race for Europe is on (again)
To avoid any doubt or risk from the equation, Hibs really need to finish in fourth place in order to secure a shot at competing in Europe next season. Fifth might do it. But there’s an awful lot of risk involved in depending on either Celtic or Rangers – who play each other in the quarter-final – keeping it together long enough to win the Scottish Cup.
Fourth-placed Motherwell don’t look like dropping points any time soon. Which is something of a problem for a Hibs side currently sitting five adrift of the Steelmen, who have a game in hand over the chasing side.
But the teams meet twice before the end of the season. And that post-split fixture card is going to be wild.
It’s going to take something special for Hibs to get into that top four. But back-to-back wins in their last two fixtures definitely helps.
And, if they maybe got the odd fortunate bounce yesterday, well, they’ve had plenty of bad luck this season. Not least on the injury front.
Assuming nobody else pulls up lame, a big assumption, and with Josh Mulligan merely the most significant of current absentees likely to return over the coming weeks, Gray’s men should get stronger. And timing is … wait for it … everything.
We need to talk about the other guys
Hibs will be in a position to play a crucial role in deciding who wins the league, once the Scottish Premiership split arrives. There’s no avoiding that.
As things stand, you’d put a small fortune on the SPFL ‘fixture computer’ deciding that the Edinburgh derby arrives on the first weekend of post-split action. Get it out of the way. Beat Hearts and give not a fig what it does for Celtic/Rangers and their hopes.
After that, well, assuming the Old Firm are both still within touch of the leaders, it definitely gets a little tricky. Everyone understands the situation. Nobody can deny that, for a lot of Hibs fans, any one-off loss would be a price well worth paying to avoid their city rivals winning the league.
The guys on the front line of football can never think like that. They’re paid to win. Embedded in an industry where you don’t hold back in a training session or bounce game, never mind a competitive fixture.
This is a theme likely to feature with some frequency, and intensity, over the coming weeks. There’s plenty of time to consider all the emotional conflict and potential for upset caused by anyone saying or doing the wrong thing.
For now, Hibs fans can feel good about their team. Happy about watching the lads made a little bit of history. And, dangerous as it may be, even hopeful about ending this stop-start campaign with something of a flourish.